Motor means for fabric pressing machines



MOTOR MEANS FOR FABRIC PRESSING MACHINES Filed June 6, 1935 -2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ERNEST DAVIS BY gnaw ATTORNEYS April 26, 1938.E. DAVIS 2,115,414

'MOTOR MEANS FOR musmc PRESSING MACHINES Filed June 6, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I a 0 2 2 I w 1 R s S 2 E i A m m m T F L m s r 8 0 m m wE 8 MM 2 8 5 8 MA -PJJ m M k 2 l Ill, 1 7 u u E J r wm va M "T A 3 2;::-:-iIB o 7 a q 2 w 5 I 3 0\ ried into effect.

Patented Apr. 26, 1938 2,115,414 MOTOR MEANS FOR FABRIC PRESSINGMACHINES Ernest Davis, Syracuse, N. Y.,

assirnor to The Prosperity Company, Ire Syracuse, N. Y., a

corporation of New Yor- Application June 6, ms, Serial No. 25,338

2 Claims- (01. 1z1 :a)

The invention relates to pressing machines, such as garment and fabricor ironing presses, and particularly to fluid-pressure or pneumaticmotor means and safety controls therefor, affording a full-automaticpress having a power-operated two-step closing function.

An object of this invention is to provide a fluid or air-pressure motormeans of simple form comprising few parts and having safety controls forfabric presses of novel construction, wherein the press first orinitially closes toapply light pressure to the work between the pressjaws, and thereafter secondly applies final-heavy pressure and locksclosed for the necessary pressing period.

Another object is to produce a fabric or apparel press with having asimplified two-step motor means in which, after the second step heavypressure is applied, varying degrees of graduated additional pressure inincrements can be applied between the press jaws, if desire A furtherobject is to produce a fabric-finishing press having a fluid-pressuremotor means and safety controls therefor, in which the operator activelyholds a two-hand three-member control at the time the press headgoesunder final-heavy locked pressure. so that a first-control means isheld to its actuated position by the operator to initially close thepress, and while still holding said first-control means, the operatoractuates,

another or second-control means by which to put the press head underfinahheavy pressure.

Other objects will be more apparent from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate oneembodiment or example of how the principles and mode of operation ofthis invention may be car- Other forms of construction may be utilizedwithout departing from the invention.

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, for an example of one form of this invention, wherein likerefera power-actuating mechanism ence characters designate correspondingparts in all the views to which reference is now made to teach theprinciples of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of chine embodying the invention and shownin its second-pressure step which is finally-closed position under heavypressure. The press illustrated is known as the scissors-action typewherein the upper ironing head is pivoted at the rear and swings up anddown in an arc. The press is a full-automatic type, in that the'ironinghead is fully closed by motor means from its wide-open position tofinally-closed heavy-pressure position.

a pressing ma- Figure 2 is a sectional diagrammatic view of the motormeans and its safety controls removed from the press frame, and spreadapart for clarity of understanding, the position of all parts being thatof open-press position.

The example of pressing machine shown comprises generally, cooperatingpressing elements or jaws, which open and close in relation to eachother, power actuating mechanism including a fluid-operated motor meansfor opening and closing the press, manual or operator-actuated means forinitially controlling the flow of motive fluid to a motor means tosafely close the press to its preliminary position, and additionalmanual means for thereafter controlling the flow of fluid l6 pressure toa m-otormeans to apply final-heavy jaw compression to the work.

In the example of construction selected to illustrate this invention,the pressing elements or press jaws comprise the usual padded buck I andan ironing head 2 movable toward and from the buck. Thebuck is mountedupon a bracket or goose neck 3 which is in turn mounted upon andsupported by the frame 4 of the press. Thepress head 2 is usuallycarried on the front end of a yoke or lever 1 pivoted at 8 on the frame4 at the rear of the press jaws. i

The fluid-operated or pneumatic motor means shown in this example of theinvention is of simplified type, and may take the form of a singlecylinder 9 and a piston l0, since the principles herein taught providemeans wherein a single piston is capable of two characteristicallydifferent functions in its power stroke for closing the press in twostages of movement. The motor 35 control means of my invention impresseson a single motor piston a controlled two-step or twostage power stroke,each of which delivers a different degree of power output, first alow-power long stroke safe ing the press, and second a high-power shortstroke capable of great ironing pressure.

The piston l0 has its connecting rod ll operatively attached, throughsuitable motion-transto the operator in initially clos- 40 mitting oroperating connections, to the ironing 2 head 2 up and down in an arc tocoact with the usual padded buck I.

The cylinder 9 is pivoted at its outer end on the press frame at 2| toafford free oscillating movement during the swinging action of the presshead 2. Since the motor piston I8 is single acting to close the pressonly and not open it, countersprings I9 and 20 are employed toreversethe motor and head-operating mechanism to open the press when theair pressure in the motor means is released or vented at the end. of theironing or press-finishing operation. Further more, these springs I9 and20 also act to arrest the downward motion of the ironing head 2 andthrow it back to safety wide-open'position in the event the operatorshould carelessly fail to follow the proper sequence of motor controloperation, which this invention provides as a protection against injuryto the operator's hands or fingers at the instant the press head 2 goesunder finalheavy pressure.

The press-starting control meansfor initially closing the press topreliminary position and safely applying light or low jaw pressurebetween the head and buck, through the first step of press operation,comprises a manually-operable control, shown in this instance as a pedal38 with its valve means 22. This initial press closing control means 30,22 will now be described, and it discloses how my invention provides asafely clos-' ing press, with a motor means capable of lightly swingingthe head down, and thereafter applying final-heavy jaw compression onthe work, both movements of which are governed by a twohand three-membercontrol solute protection to the operator.

The operator-actuated first control member 30 is for controlling a valveincluding a casing 22 having a normally-closed spring pressed inletvalve 23 therein controlling the intake of lowpressure air to the motor,and a normally-open exhaust valve 24 controlling an outlet or exhaustpassage 25 venting to atmosphere, as shown. These valves 23 and 24 areconnected by a stem 26 so that they act together as a unit.

The intake end of the valve casing 22 is connected with a low-pressureair supply line 21 for a motive fluid reduced to light or low pressureby any well known means. The valve casing 22 is also connected at apoint between its two valve heads 23 and 24 to an air line 28 whichconveys low-pressure air to a port 29 in the head or intake end of thecylinder 9 to actuate the piston ID on its low-power first-stagemovement, and

this, air line 28 also serves as the exhaust line to vent the cylinder||l of all air pressure at the end of the ironing operation when thepress is ready to be opened.

The pedal 30 is pivoted at 3| to the frame 4 of the press, and isconnected by a push rod 32 to a lever 33 pivoted at 34 to the valvecasing 22 and having a rocker arm 35 thrusting against a stem 36 of theunit exhaust and intake valve means 24, 23. The motion of the pedal 30is yieldingly transmitted to the valve lever 33 through a coil spring 31on the push rod 32 interposed between a fixed collar 38 and a slidablecollar 38 on said rod. The spring 31 thrusts the free collar 39 upwardlyagainst the lever 33 to move the valve unit 26 to the right, thusopening the intake 23 and closing the exhaust 24. The control rod 32slides freely through an enlarged opening in the lever 33 and has a nutor fixed shoulder 40 at its upper end which pulls downwardly against thelever 33 when the pedal 30 is released and the means, assuringabcompressed spring 31 is free to react downwardly to return the pedal30 to its up position.

The valves 23 and 24 are either held in their reversed or closed-presspositions (opposite to that shown in Figure 2) by the toe-control 38held down by the operator's foot, or by a pressure-operated means, say adiaphragm 68, under the control of another manual member 10, to behereinafter described. In both events, i. e., by either of these twooptional valve-holding means, the piston I8 is maintained on itsoutstroke under fluid pressure to keep the press initially closed underlight or low pressure contact, or under heavy-final locked pressure atthe will of the operator.

Amain air supply line 41, say of normal or high-pressuraconnects withone side of a well known form of pressure-checking or reducing valve 4|,thereby afiording a low-pressure output of air through the line 21leading from the other side of the reducing valve 4| to the valve 22.The check valve 4| serves to reduce or cut down the degree or value ofpressure in any well known manner flowing from the source or feed line41 to the initial control or press-closing valve means 22, and hence tothe cylinder 8, by which the latter develops a minimum or low-poweroutput to intially close the press, but insuflicient to produce ironingpressure.

A second manual control means comprises an operator-operated orpreferably a manually operable normally-closed intake valve means 42 andits manual 55 connected in the high pressure feed line 46, 41, and alsoconnected by a flexible tubing 48 to a port 50 in the cylinder 8 of themotor means. This second control means (it can be a one or two-handcontrol) governs a flow of high-pressure fluid to the cylinder 8, andthereby further energizes the motor means to a higher degree of poweroutput to initiate the second and final stage of heavy locked jawpressure.

This second control means comprises the valve casing 42 having therein anormally-closed spring-pressed intake valve 43, and a normallyopenspring-pressed exhaust valve 44 therein, these valves being combined orconnected to act as a unit by a stem 45. The intake end of the valvecasing 42 .is connected in series by the pipe 46 with the high-pressurefeed line 41, through another and similar valve casing 52 also having aunit valve stem carrying an intake head 53 and exhaust head 54 with amanual 56 like its com-' panion series valve 42. One of these valves 42or 43 could be omitted. However, the second valve 52, in series with theother, is preferably and neoessarily employed to obtain a two-handcontrol 55 and 56 so that the press head 2 cannot be locked closed underthe iinal-heavy pressure second step unless both hands are heldsimultaneously on two control buttons or manuals at that time.

This second-step two-hand control means,

formed by the series-arranged valves 42 and 55 and 56 with theirconnecttrol, and thereby governing the application of high pressure tothe motor to finally close the press and lock it under final-heavypressure, as now described.

The cylinder 9 has its port 50 located toward the end of the out strokeof the piston Hi. This port is uncovered by the piston l when the latterhas travelled a certain distance predetermined by the position of theport 56 in the cylinder wall, wh ch port is appropriately located inrelation to the initial down swing of the head 2. The port 50,therefore, is adapted to be uncovered by the piston l0 simultaneouslywith the head 2 reaching the buck l and making light contact therewith.

The port 50,-in cooperating with the piston l0 and the first controlmeans 39, 32, controls the second step of the press operation byapplication of high pressure to the motor means 9. The depressionof thebuttons 55 and 56 alone will not accomplish this high-power energizationof the motor means until after the port 50 has been uncovered by thepiston l6. However, after the press initially closes and the port 50 isopened,

coupled with the holding down of the control 30 by the operator, thissecond-step control 55, 56 can then be manually actuated by the operatorto deliver high-pressure air to the motor 9 to close and lock the pressunder final-heavy pressure.

A suitable check valve 5| is located in the pipe 46, between the motorand the second-step control 55, 56 to prevent the air pressure from thecylinder 9 from venting out through the pipe 48 and through exhaustports in both valve casings 42 and 52 when low pressure fluid isinitially applied to the motor means for the first,- step closingfunction. This check valve 5| also prevents the highpressure fromexhausting from the motor 9 when the manuals 55 and 56 are released atthe end of the second-step closing function. I

The spaced two-hand operated packless exhaust valves 44 and 54 do notfunction as exhaust valves per se. or as exhaust valves for the motormeans 9 itself, because the check valve 5| is included in the highpressure line 48, leading to port 56. They are used, however, instead ofpackings to preventleakage of air from the valve cas ngs 42 and52 whenthe intake valves 43 and 53 are held open by the two-hand control means55 and 56. v

used instead of these packless exhaust-closure heads 44 and 54, thecheck valve 5| would not be necessary. But since wrapped or softpackings become leaky. this type of unit packless valves is preferred.

There is provided a holding means for the firststep or press-startingcontrol 30, 22. This is shown as a manual 10, with related means, forhold ng or locking the unit valves 23 and 24 in their operated orclosed-press position in order to initially close and hold closed thepress under light pressure. This necessarily requires that the exhaustport 25 be kept closed, which is accomplished either by the toe control30 or the hand control 10, or both. There is also a press-opening orrelease manual 80 for releasing the valves 23 and 24 to effect theopening of the press at the end of the ironing operation. The optionalcontrol 19 and the press-opening control 96, with their relatedelements, will now be described.

A pressure or diaphragm chamber 59 is associated with the first control36, 22. A flexible diaphragm 60 in said chamber acts on a stem 6! whichin turn acts upon the third arm 62 of haust valve 66 and If soft orwrapped packings were the rocker arm 33 of the pedal control 36. Thepressure side of this diaphragm chamber 59 is connected by a pipe 63leading to a valve casing 64 of the control 16. The valve housing 64 hasa normally-closed spring pressed intake valve 65 and a normally-openexhaust valve 66 connected together by a stem 61 to act as a unit. Theintake end of the valve casing 64 is connected with the high pressurefeed line 41.

The combined or unit valves 65 and 66 are operated by the manual orhandle 19 pivoted on the valve housing 64 'and thrusting against arocker arm 12 which in turn acts upon the stem of the exhaust valve 66.The unit valves 65 and 66 are held in their operated positions bypressure-operated means such as a diaphragm chamber 13 associated withthe valve casing 64, a'diaphragm 14 therein acting upon a sliding stem15, which in turn acts upon the rocker arm or lever 12. The pressureside of the diaphragm chamber 13 is connected by a passage 16 to theinterior of the valve casing 64, so as to transmit pressure to thediaphragm chamber 13 and defleet the diaphragm 14 to the left, thustilting the rocker arm 12 and locking closed the exopen the intake 65 bywhich to send a charge of air pressure to the diaphragm chamber 59 toactuate and hold the valve unit 26.

The diaphragm chamber 13 is also connected with an exhaust pipe 11having a normally-closed spring-pressed exhaust valve 18 therein whichis located in" a valve casing 19. This release or exhaust valve 18 isoperated by lifting a triggerlike manual 60 to free the diaphragm.chamber 13 of air pressure so as to release the rocker arm 12 and permitit to assume the free position shown in Figure 2, thereby venting thepipe 63 leading from the other diaphragm chamber 59 of the toe controlassembly 30,-22. When the pipe 63 vents, the exhaust 25 opens, and thecylinder 9 exhausts to atmospherethrough pipe 28 and atmospheric port25.

I The valve casing 22 may be suitably supported n the lower part of thepress frame 4 for convenient operation when the control 30 is made inthe formof a toe control, as shown. The valve casings 42, 52 and 64 aremounted in suitable housings on the frame located near the table of thepress in order that the manual controls 10, 55 and 56 are convenientlyreached for hand operation.

A pressure to the cylinder 9 or to the port 29 so that the operator candetermine how much air pressure is being delivered, and hence determinewhether or not additional jaw pressure is required for a particularpiece of work being ironed and to determine when the jaw pressurereaches the required degree. Hence, in all operations, the pressuregauge 6| shows the operator the amount of pressurein the cylinder 9which bears a relation to the amount of jaw compression being deliveredto the work-piece being ironed, and permits him to determine how muchextra pressure is required or how much extra pressure is beingdelivered.

In the use of the press, the operator first spreads the work' to beironed on the padded buck I. The operator may then depress and hold themdal 30, and the head 2 comes down easily under light pressure with nodanger to the operator. If the operator determines that heavy pressureis not required, he can either hold down the pedal 36 with his toe, ordepress the handle 10 to permit air pressure to pass from thehigh-pressure feed line 41 through the valve casing 84, and hencethrough the pipe 53 to the diaphragm chamber 59 to lock the toe-controlmotor-starting unit valves 23 and 24 in their operated or closed-pressposition at the end of the initial or first-step closing movement of thepress. Hence, the, means 10, 64 is in effect a simple device for holdingthe toe control 30, 22 in its operated or closed-press position.

To put the press under locked final-heavy pressure, the push buttons 55and 56 are now depressed, thus permitting high-pressure air to pass fromthe feed line 41 through the'valve casings 52 and 42, the pipe 48, pastthe check valve and into the cylinder 9. Hence, either one or both ofthe low-pressure controls 80 or II are first depressed, and thereafterthe highpressure control 55, 56 is actuated, and this final two-stepcontrol aiiords a safe, high-pressure, multi step ironing press.

To release the air pressure in the cylinder 9 and open the press jaws Iand 2, the press-opening or release valve lever 80 is lifted by theoperators finger. This permits the air to exhaust from both diaphragmchambers 59 and I3, and thus permits the motor-starting or initial-stepvalves 23 and 24 to return to their normal openpress positions. The airpressure then exhausts from the cylinder 9 out through the combinedintake and exhaust pipe 28, valvecasing 22, ex-

haust passage 25 to atmosphere, and the headreturning springs l9 and 20open the press.

In case the operator does not operate the supplemental motor-startingvalve handle to .hold the first motor-starting valve 22 toitsclosedpress position,-throughdeflection of both diaphragm chambers 59and I3, but maintains the press closed by holding his toe on the pedal30, the press can be opened up, either from light or heavy pressure, bymerely releasing the pedal 30.

It will now be understood that I have provided an initial press-closingcontrol (for example, the operator-actuated manual 30) which is held. bythe operator while the ironing head 2 is swinging downtopreliminarily-closed position just short of its ironing pressure, andthat this control is also held by the'operator at the time he actuatesthe second control means, (either a single or double manual 55, 56) toput the press under finalheavy locked ironing pressure, and that atleast one set of these fcontrols preferably constitutes a two-handcontrol. In other words, my pneumatic motor and control combination, inan ironing press, comprises a two-hand third-manual control, that is tosay a two-hand control composed of three manuals, all three of which areheld by the operator at the moment of critical action when the press isgoing under heavy locked pressure. Thus, a factor of great safety isprovided in the control of the movement of the steam-heated laundrypress head 2 capable of grave danger to an operator. I

The two-hand control 55, 56 may also be used for the further purpose ofa graduated-pressure control to apply extra or graduated heavy pressureto the press jaws. The amount of highpressure air delivered to thecylinder 9 isdeter-i mined by the length of time the operator holds thepush buttons 55 and 55 depressed. For example when the press isinitially closed to preliminary position, the operator may depress thepush buttons 55 and 56 .momentarily so that working fiuid under highpressure will flow to the cylinder 9 for only an instant. It is obviousthat these increments of additional working fluid will raise thepressure in the ing the pressing elements I and 2 to come together underincreased graduated heavier pressure, it that is desired, up to the gagepressure aiforded by the main feed line 41.

Various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art in thepractice and use of this invention, and no limitation is intended by thephraseology o! the description or disclosure of the foregoing example ofthis invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A pressing machine including, in combination, cooperating pressingelements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; actuatingmechanism for the movable element including, a fluid operated motorhaving a movable member; the motor having a combined intake and exhaustport located adjacent the position occupied by the movable member whenin starting position,.a second port arranged in the motor to beuncovered by the movable memberwhen' it has traveled a predetermineddistance from its starting position, a low pressure feed line for amotive fluid, a combined intake and exhaust valve in said low pressureline arranged with its intake normally closed and its exhaust normallyopen, a combined inlet and exhaust pipe connecting the valve casing andthe first mentioned port, operator-operated means for actuating thecombined valve to close its exhaust and open its intake, a high pressurefeed line, a valve casing in said high pressure feed line having anormally closed intake valve therein, a conduit connecting the lastmentioned valve casing and the second port, pressure operated means forholding the combined intake-and exhaust valve in its operated position;and a manually operable valve including, a casing connected in one ofthe feed lines and operable at will to control the flow of motive fluidto the holding means.

2. A pressing machine including, in combination, cooperating pressingelements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; mechanismfor actuating the movable element including, a cylinder, a single actingpiston movable in the cylinder, and operating connections between thepiston rod and the movable element; the cylinder having an intake portin one end thereof, a second port opening into the cylinder between theendsthereof in position to be uncovered by the piston when it approachesthe end of its power stroke, a low pressure feed line, anoperator-operated combined intake and exhaust valve comprising a casingconnected in the low pressure feed line and normally arranged to closeits intake and open its exhaust but manually operable to open the intakeand close the exhaust, a combined intake and exhaust pipe connectingsaid valve casing with the first port, pressure operated holding meansfor retaining said combined intake and exhaust valve in its operatedposition, a high pressure feed line, manually operable valve meansconnected in the high pressure feed line for controlling the flow ofmotive fluid to said holding means, an addicylinder 9, thereby causvtional manually operable normally closed intake valve having a casingconnectedin the high pressure feed line and having means tending to movethe valve toward closed position, and a conduit connecting the lastmentioned valve casing to the second port of the cylinder.

-' ERNEST DAVIS.

